[[File:Solar_Circle_program_in_Tanzania,_1-10-13.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Solar Circle]] public service exchange program in [[Tanzania]]]].

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==Events==

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{{CalendarAndPastEvents}}

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=={{FeaturedProjectTitle}}==

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[[File:Solar_Circle_program_in_Tanzania,_1-10-13.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Solar Circle]] public service exchange program in [[Tanzania]]]]

*'''January 2013: Solar Circle shares insights they have learned in Tanzania''' - The NGO [[Solar Circle]] has learned many things from their solar cooking program in Masasi, southern [[Tanzania]]. People will use solar cookers if they are efficient and affordable, which is often a problem for subsistence farmers who are most in need of the cookers even when the cookers are heavily subsidized. However, they have also learned that people will work hard to earn a solar cooker. The group has created a bartering system with community leaders. The community chooses a service project and the beneficiaries organize and oversee the effort. Participants earn an solar oven for their involvement. So far, the program has distributed more than 3000 solar ovens, and built 40 houses for people who are sick, elderly, widowed, or disabled. Because the community chooses the project and beneficiary, there’s an eagerness to work together. Surrounding villages have heard of the cookers and the program, so spreading the word has been easy. They cannot keep up with demand. The barter program relies on external help with finances, but community service represents the same effort that of money earned in outside employment. Solar Circle values that effort, and raises what money it can from friends to expand the program.

*'''January 2013: Solar Circle shares insights they have learned in Tanzania''' - The NGO [[Solar Circle]] has learned many things from their solar cooking program in Masasi, southern [[Tanzania]]. People will use solar cookers if they are efficient and affordable, which is often a problem for subsistence farmers who are most in need of the cookers even when the cookers are heavily subsidized. However, they have also learned that people will work hard to earn a solar cooker. The group has created a bartering system with community leaders. The community chooses a service project and the beneficiaries organize and oversee the effort. Participants earn an solar oven for their involvement. So far, the program has distributed more than 3000 solar ovens, and built 40 houses for people who are sick, elderly, widowed, or disabled. Because the community chooses the project and beneficiary, there’s an eagerness to work together. Surrounding villages have heard of the cookers and the program, so spreading the word has been easy. They cannot keep up with demand. The barter program relies on external help with finances, but community service represents the same effort that of money earned in outside employment. Solar Circle values that effort, and raises what money it can from friends to expand the program.

[[File:Macadonia_Ministry_cookers_in_Tanzania,_3-4-14.jpg|thumb|300px|New [[solar box cooker]]s and [[fireless cooker]]s are distributed in [[Tanzania]] by Macedonia Ministry in collaboration with the [[Kyoto Twist Solar Cooking Society]].]]

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[[File:Widow_solar_cooking_project_Tanzania,_2013,_1-15-13.jpg|thumb|250px|Solarandfirelesscookerspresented to widowsin the Macedonia Ministry income generation program with[[KyotoTwist]].]]

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[[File:Naomi_removing_food_from_solar_cooker_to_fireless_cooker.jpg|thumb|300px|Naomiopensthesolarcooker to transferfood to the firelesscookingbasket.]]

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*'''January2013: MacedoniaMinistryprovidessolar and fireless cookers forwidows''' -Widows in [[Tanzania]]livewithanunjustifiedstigma,thatcanoftenincludeabuse.Despitethegovernment's efforts to helpeducate the public, prejudice still exists. Unfortunately, due in somepartto AIDS, the number of single parent households are on the rise. In2010and2011theMacedoniaMinistryin collaboration with the nonprofit, [[KyotoTwist]],providedmorethanseventy-fivewidowswith [[solarbox cooker]]sand [[fireless cooker]]sinthecity of Moshi, withintheKilimanjaroRegion.Thesecookershavehelpedsavetheenvironmentasfewertreesarecutfor[[fuelwood]]. The incomeincentiveprogram has allowed the womentopaythefees to sendtheirchildrentoschool, andbeable to getthemmedicalattention.Theyarehappy and wantthisprojectcontinued.

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*'''March2014: Updatefrom2012to2014''' TheMacedonia Ministry (NGO) in collaboration with [[KyotoTwistSolarCookingSociety]]from[[Canada]]provided100solarand100firelesscookers to 100families in theArusharegion of [[Tanzania]]. Theyalsoconductedworkshopsonhowtocook with the solar and [[firelesscooker]]s.Thetrainingwassuccessful,cookingugali([[hardporridge]]),cooked [[rice]],vegetables,meat,beans, makande(beansmixedwithmaize),andmilktea.Theywereexcitedtoenjoyfoodcookedwithsolarcookers. The resultofusing the cookers has reduce tree cutting, the eyeandchestproblemsdue to smokehasreducedby40%, studentsaregoing to schoolsincethemoneywhichusedfor buying fuel wood and charcoalisnowsaved and used for other purposes including medication, school fees.

*'''February2014: Solar cookers on their way to Tanzania, Pakistan, and Iraq''' - A.G. Karim of the [[LadyFatemahTrust]],reportsthat550solarcookershavebeenshippedtoArusha,[[Tanzania]].As soon as more sunny returns, a trainer from [[Kenya]] will come and helptrainagroupofvolunteerstorunuserworkshops. The groupisalsointhe process of shipping 2,500 solar cookers to [[Pakistan]],and[[AndreasFasoulides]],livingin[[Cyprus]]isscheduledtocometotrainvolunteers.Oncetheprogramin Pakistan is underway, the Trust plans toship solar cookers to[[Iraq]]toprovide villagers in the desertwith a solar cooking alternative, as they currently burn either dried branches of dates or kerosene.

*'''February 2014:''' Members of the Global Resource Alliance demonstrate the importance of permaculture for the future welfare of the citizens of Tanzania. [[File:From the Mara Soil - a Film About Simple and Natural Solutions to Poverty, Hunger and Disease|thumb|none|400px|Members from the [[GlobalResourceAlliance]] explaintheimportance of permaculture adoption in [[Tanzania]], and the role solar cooking can play.]]

*'''October 2011:''' Two members of Japan Solar Cooking Association, [[Yasuko Torii]] and [[Toyoko Nishikawa]] visited 5 villages around Kitulo National Park located in the south western part of [[Tanzania]] to promote solar cooking. This was the fourth visit since January 2008. They exhibited parabolic cookers, handmade box and panel type cookers and demonstrated cooking at October Mpeto Festival 2011 held on October 2 in Matamba town. Many visitors watched and enjoyed tasting solar baked cakes and popcorn.

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*'''August2011: Familyenergyprojectreaches400householdsin Tanzania''' - ThisSummer [[ChildreachInternational]] launcheditsveryownEastAfricanFamilyEnergyProjectaspart of itsclimatechangeinitiative.ThisinnovativeprojectaimstoprovidenolessthanonemillionruralEastAfricanhouseholds with access to renewable energy services. The initiative, the first of itskind,addresses issues of education, the health of women and children,environmentaldegradationaswellasclimatechange.Workingcloselywithlocal communities, theFamilyEnergyProjectoffers four technologies to helppeopleintheirdaily lives, including a solar cooker(winneroftheFinancialTimes Climate Change Challenge), a renewable biomass stove (for when the sun is not shining), a solar lighting system and asolarwaterpurificationsystem. Thesetechnologiespreventpeoplefromhavingtocollectorbuyfirewood, andremove the health issues caused by smoke, keeping children in school and reducing carbon emissions. July of 2011sawtheprojectlaunched in the first400householdsintheKilimanjaroregion.Womeninthesecommunitiesinparticularwerevictimsoflungandeyediseases as aresultof cooking toxic woods indoors while children often spent up to threehoursa day collecting firewood, time they would usually have spent in school. An ongoing study is beingconductedinthesevillagestomeasurehowtheprojectis contributing to theachievementof the MillenniumDevelopment Goals. [http://www.childreach.org.uk/news-articles/family-energy-project Read more...]]

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*'''November2013: Islamiccharitysends500solarcookersto Tanzania''' - TheLondon-based Islamic charity, [[LadyFatemah Trust]] (LFT)hasshipped500solarpanelcookerstotheBilalMuslim Mission of [[Tanzania]].Thesehighly-reflectivewaterproofversionsofthetraditional[[CooKit]]weredesignedbyUKinventor[[MatthewRollins]],andareintended to reduce the amount of timespentby women and children foragingforfirewood.[[FaustineOdaba]],whoisconductingthetrainingsessions, willshowthewomenhow to cooklocalfoodswiththese solar cookersthathavebeenmanufacturedin the UK and shippedtoTanzaniaonpallets. AlthoughLFTreportsthatthenewlydesignedsolarcookersdonotrequire the use of aplasticbagtosurround the cookingpot,theyalsoreportthatnextyearLFTwillsupplyfoiltraysandcleardomestobeused as greenhousesoverthe cooking pot to improvecookingefficiency. LFT is indiscussionwithOdabaabouttheintroductionofretained-heatcookingtechnology to beusedalongside the solarcookers.

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*'''January 2011:''' [[GlobalResource Alliance]] received a generous grant from the Ferguson Foundation to offer 50 solar cooking workshops in the Mara Region of Tanzania and over 1,000subsidized Solar CooKits. This, in addition to a grant from [http://www.weforest.org/ WeForest] and Deliotte Belgium to plant 130,000 trees over the next two years, will help restore this heavily deforested area and prevent many health problems and deaths related to smoke inhalation.

[[File:Widow_solar_cooking_project_Tanzania,_2013,_1-15-13.jpg|thumb|250px|Solar and fireless cookers presented to widows in the Macedonia Ministry income generation program with [[Kyoto Twist]].]]

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*'''November2010:''' [[Stellaris Ministries]] ledsolarcookingtrainings in the community of Singidathispastsummer. Theyaremakingadocumentaryfilmabout the solar cookingneedsof the people of Tanzania. A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1DPJxhv5XYpreviewclipof the film]isavailableforcomment.

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*'''January2013: Macedonia Ministry provides solar and fireless cookers for widows''' - Widows in [[Tanzania]] livewith an unjustified stigma, that can often include abuse. Despite the government's efforts to help educate the public, prejudice still exists.Unfortunately,due in some part to AIDS, the number of singleparenthouseholdsare on the rise. In2010and2011theMacedoniaMinistry in collaboration with the nonprofit, [[Kyoto Twist]], provided more than seventy-five widows with [[solar boxcooker]]sand [[fireless cooker]]s in the city of Moshi, within the Kilimanjaro Region. These cookers have helped save the environment as fewer trees are cut for [[fuelwood]]. Theincomeincentive program has allowed the womentopaythe fees to send their children to school, and be able to get them medical attention. They are happy and want this projectcontinued.

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*'''August 2010:''' A two-week exhibition to promote science education is currently taking place at the Alliance Francaise in Dar es Salaam. It’s an interactive and educative exhibition under the theme ‘The earth’s future is in our hands’. The event, organised by the French embassy in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, will be held for two weeks. It started August 24, and will end September 6. This year’s event is meant to provide students and the public with alternatives to energy, says Abel Shuma, an official of the Alliance Francaise. The students are able perform a number of experiments, including solar cooking. [http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazines/33-education/3876-exhibition-promotes-science-education.html Exhibition promotes science education] -''The Citizen''

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*'''August 2010:''' [[Global Resource Alliance]] won the first place regional award and second place national award at "Nane Nane," Tanzania's largest farming and agriculture expo for their presentation on solar cooking. Every year over ten thousand people gather for the three day Nane Nane (8/8) celebration. GRA was invited by the Tanzanian government to present permaculture, solar cooking and rammed earth block construction. The exhibit was received by over 1,000 attendees who were treated to samples of solar cooked meat and sweet potatoes. GRA's staff educated people on the many benefits of solar cooking from smokeless cooking to preventing deforestation to easy water pasteurization. On the final day, GRA presented a solar cooked cake to the Guest of Honor and other government officials.

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*'''July 2010:''' Primary school pupils in four districts in [[Tanzania]] will benefit from the use of solar cookers distributed by an institution called [[Solar Oven Society]] (SOS) Africa. A total of 240 solar cookers will be distributed to primary schools in the four districts. The use of the cookers will reduce unscrupulous tree felling. [http://thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/2939-schools-to-get-solar-cookers.html Schools to get solar cookers]

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[[File:Sol_Soffit_cookers_1.jpg|right|275px]]

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*'''February 2010:''' [[Sol Suffit]] is working to bring its super-clean and super-simple solar cooker to developing nations, to replace the environmentally-devastating traditional cooking methods that rely on firewood and charcoal. The project started in the Djoudj National Bird Park, a World Heritage site in [[Senegal]], and now has also set up shop in Pikine, a suburb of Dakar, across the continent in [[Tanzania]], and is currently working to establish a presence in [[Cameroon]] with a partner organization. Project leader [[Axel Vanderhaeghen]] said, based on "the response from everyone who gets to know the project, we're very certain it won't stop in Cameroon. Also, we found a way to introduce bigger solar cookers now, thanks to microcredits." They are looking for partner organizations to help with their efforts. Read more at: [http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/solar-cookers-africa.html Solar Cookers Taking Hold in Africa: Want to Help?]

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[[Image:Tanzsolar_2008.jpg|thumb|250px|[[TanzSolar]] participants paint aluminum [[pots]] with blackboard [[paint]] for use in solar cookers.]]

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*'''November 2008:''' [[Solar Cookers International]] (SCI) recently collaborated with the upstart solar organization [[TanzSolar]] to provide a comprehensive solar presentation to 20 local professionals in Musoma. Founded by [[Marianne Walpert]] of California, [[USA]], TanzSolar provides affordable photovoltaic solar panels to rural internet companies, individuals and small businesses in northern Tanzania, and is interested in working with SCI to spread solar cooking and solar water pasteurization in northern Tanzania. SCI’s eastern Africa staff members are currently planning a five-day solar cooking and water treatment workshop at the TanzSolar facilities in Musoma, as well as future collaborations in the region. In addition, TanzSolar has become a distributor of solar lanterns that SCI hopes to utilize in some of its project areas in the future.

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[[Image:TanzSolar June 2008.JPG|right|300px]]

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*'''September 2008:''' [[Karyn Ellis]] of [[Solar Cookers International]] (SCI) writes: "I traveled to Musoma, Tanzania to pursue collaborations between SCI and [[TanzSolar]] ~ a newly established nonprofit that will provide affordable solar panels to local internet organizations, health clinics, schools, small businesses and individuals throughout Tanzania. While TanzSolar specializes in photovoltaic (PV) systems, they are interested in expanding their solar reach and open to working with SCI to bring simple solar cooking and water pasteurization techniques to the area as well. [[Marianne Walpert]] and her sons showed me great hospitality while I was in Musoma, treating me like family and taking time from their busy schedules to help with a solar demo and introduce me to some active and influential business people in the community; like [[Sergio Velasquez]] of [[Mano a Mano]], and [[Robi Machaba]] of [[JuaSun]], a local internet company that works closely with Marianne and TanzSolar. With their help we rounded up a good group of locally active individuals interested in improving their environment by providing alternative methods of cooking, treating water and generating income in their community. Together we organized a very successful day of informational presentations on solar cooking and [[water pasteurization]] ideologies, processes and techniques, generating a great deal of participation and interest. With the help of those listed above and SCI's East Africa Office, SCI and TanzSolar will plan to host a 5-day integrated solar workshop on the TanzSolar grounds later in the year." See the Photo Blog here: http://www.solarcookers.org/news/2008/06/tanzania-and-tanzsolar.html

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[[Image:Solar_Circle_Tanzania_2008.jpg|right|thumb|277px|Solar box cookers are assembled by local artisans in Masasi and Ndanda]]

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*'''March 2008:''' The Okemos, Michigan (USA) nonprofit organization [[Solar Circle]] continues its efforts to make solar cooking an option for women in Tanzania. Solar Circle works with local artisans to manufacture solar box cookers from Cyprus wood, aluminum printing plates, glass, used rubber, and other materials available in Tanzania. However, these cookers cost $70 or more to build, and are heavily subsidized to be affordable. Solar Circle has partnered with engineering students at Michigan State University (MSU) to design lighter, less expensive models that can still be made with local materials. Last year, professor [[Craig Somerton]] took nine of the students to Masasi, Tanzania to work with Brother [[Yohannes Mango]] and his team of artisans at the Benedictine Abbey in Ndanda. According to the Solar Circle Web site, the “students came armed with sound scientific theories on the behavior of light and heat, and met up with artisans experienced in constructing solar ovens. They worked together to test and improve the ovens. The artisans learned some theory, the students learned some practicalities of building without power tools and computer enhancements.” The students also spent time teaching the local population how to use the solar cookers. The on-line journal [http://msutoday.msu.edu/ MSU Today International] reported that, while the students were in Masasi, professor [[Brian Thompson]] spent time in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro working “to make the use of solar ovens a nationwide reality by networking with numerous agencies before formulating a broad initiative” involving businesses, governmental entities, and schools. The Shell foundation, for example, has since funded a solar cooking workshop in Morogoro at Sokoine University. As noted on the Solar Circle Web site, many agency representatives, entrepreneurs and policy makers attended and “gathered to learn about solar cooking and brainstorm best ways to promulgate solar cooking in Tanzania.” A number of solar cookers were on display, including models from [[South Africa]], [[Netherlands]], and the [[United States]].

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*'''2008:''' Moto uko wapi? “Where is the fire?" This is the question asked by people experiencing solar cooking and solar cooked foods for the very first time. [[Dieter Aneca]], from [[Belgium]], and Calvin Chikawe assisted by two local women are causing a stir solar cooking in Morogoro. Deiter writes; ”In 2007 I finished my studies in Belgium in the environmental sector. Before coming to Tazmania, I came in contact with [[Sol Suffit]], who have solar cooking projects in [[Senegal]]. They gave me two cookers to use in Tazmania, to test solar cooking myself. Following up with Sol Suffit, we decided to start a project here and named it [[Sola Sufuria]]. In this project we plan to make solar cookers available in and outside of the Morogoro region. [[Solar Cookers International]] (EA) has assisted us in sourcing for reflective aluminum foil papers and plastic cooking bags as well as leading us to a supplier for the correct glue. We are grateful to SCI (EA) and will continue to work with them as we plan for a permanent production center to meet the growing demand.

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*'''Spring 2007:''' The Baptist mission is busy spreading solar cooking knowledge and skills in Dodoma. Having bought four [[CooKit]]s initially, they made more from carton and glue and recently requested 24 more. (Source: the [[Appropriate Technology Development Resource Center]] in Dodoma, Tanzania)

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[[Image:Solar_Circle_baking.gif|right|300px]]

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*'''April 2007:''' The Web site of [[Solar Circle]] tells an inspiring story of how a few people can make a big difference by working together. Solar Circle is a US-based nonprofit organization made up of a network of friends, mostly women. A few years ago, Solar Circle took two dozen American-made [[Global Sun Oven]]s® to Masasi, Tanzania, where they were enthusiastically received. However, people quickly saw the impossibility of importing enough ovens to overcome high purchase and transport costs. Consequently, Solar Circle has started a small industry in Tanzania to build solar box cookers. Several Tanzanian craftspeople have joined in the effort. They make the outer box from cypress wood, which is treated with cashew nut oil to repel insects. [[Reflective materials|Reflective surfaces]] are made by collecting and cleaning discarded lithographic plates, and crafting them into the proper shapes. Gaskets are made from used tires or shoe leather. Students from the Mechanical Engineering Design Program at Michigan State University ([[USA]]) are collaborating to develop a model that is lighter, cheaper and more efficient, using only domestic Tanzanian materials and manufacturing processes. Mlelwa, one Tanzanian who built a solar oven, coined a new proverb: “People say 'Jua kali,' but we know 'Jua ni mali.'” ("People say the sun is hot today, but we know the hot sun is wealth"). '''''Contact:''''' ''[[Solar Circle]]''

*'''March 2006:''' [[Sperancea Gabone]] recently held a solar cooker exhibition at Mawenzi primary school in Moshi, Tanzania. Over 20 people gathered to learn about solar cooking and to taste solar-cooked food, including [[ugali]], meat, beans and rice. [[Rolf Behringer]], of the [[International Solar Energy Society]] (ISES), led a solar box cooker construction workshop at nearby Karanga Technical School, and joined Ms. Gabone at the exhibition. In addition to solar box cookers, [[retained-heat cookers]] were also used. (A retained-heat cooker, also known as a fireless cooker or “hay box,” is an insulated enclosure in which is set a pot of food that has been brought to a boil, allowing it to continue to cook after being removed from its heat source.) '''''Contact:''''' ''[[Sperancea Gabone]]''

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[[Image:Altener_Scheffler_reflector_2005.jpg|right|199px]]

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{{OldNewsLink}}

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*'''July 2005:''' [[AltEner Energy Technologies]] presented a 3-square-meter [[Scheffler reflector]] for observation at the 19th Mara Development Forum in Mugumu, Serengeti District, Tanzania. Scheffler reflectors are large parabolic dishes that are often used to heat a cooking medium (such as water to make steam) that is circulated to one or more indoor cooking stations. This is a smaller version. Mr. [[Charles Onyango-Oloo]] of AltEner says the new design is user friendly since "the port is mounted on one side and not in the middle of the reflector dish." AltEner is currently developing a 1.5-square-meter, manually tracked Scheffler cooker.

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==The History of Solar Cooking in Tanzania==

==The History of Solar Cooking in Tanzania==

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''[Information for this section was taken originally from [[Media:sam.pdf|State of the Art of Solar Cooking]] by Dr. [[Barbara Knudson]]]''

''[Information for this section was taken originally from [[Media:sam.pdf|State of the Art of Solar Cooking]] by Dr. [[Barbara Knudson]]]''

[[File:From the Mara Soil - a Film About Simple and Natural Solutions to Poverty, Hunger and Disease|thumb|left|400px|Members from the [[Global Resource Alliance]] explain the importance of permaculture adoption in [[Tanzania]], and the role solar cooking can play.]]

Contents

January 2013: Solar Circle shares insights they have learned in Tanzania - The NGO Solar Circle has learned many things from their solar cooking program in Masasi, southern Tanzania. People will use solar cookers if they are efficient and affordable, which is often a problem for subsistence farmers who are most in need of the cookers even when the cookers are heavily subsidized. However, they have also learned that people will work hard to earn a solar cooker. The group has created a bartering system with community leaders. The community chooses a service project and the beneficiaries organize and oversee the effort. Participants earn an solar oven for their involvement. So far, the program has distributed more than 3000 solar ovens, and built 40 houses for people who are sick, elderly, widowed, or disabled. Because the community chooses the project and beneficiary, there’s an eagerness to work together. Surrounding villages have heard of the cookers and the program, so spreading the word has been easy. They cannot keep up with demand. The barter program relies on external help with finances, but community service represents the same effort that of money earned in outside employment. Solar Circle values that effort, and raises what money it can from friends to expand the program.

Naomi opens the solar cooker to transfer food to the fireless cooking basket.

March 2014: Update from 2012 to 2014 The Macedonia Ministry (NGO) in collaboration with Kyoto Twist Solar Cooking Society from Canada provided 100 solar and 100 fireless cookers to 100 families in the Arusha region of Tanzania. They also conducted workshops on how to cook with the solar and fireless cookers. The training was successful, cooking ugali (hard porridge), cooked rice, vegetables, meat, beans, makande (beans mixed with maize), and milk tea. They were excited to enjoy food cooked with solar cookers. The result of using the cookers has reduce tree cutting, the eye and chest problems due to smoke has reduced by 40%, students are going to school since the money which used for buying fuel wood and charcoal is now saved and used for other purposes including medication, school fees.

February 2014: Solar cookers on their way to Tanzania, Pakistan, and Iraq - A.G. Karim of the Lady Fatemah Trust, reports that 550 solar cookers have been shipped to Arusha, Tanzania. As soon as more sunny returns, a trainer from Kenya will come and help train a group of volunteers to run user workshops. The group is also in the process of shipping 2,500 solar cookers to Pakistan, and Andreas Fasoulides, living in Cyprus is scheduled to come to train volunteers. Once the program in Pakistan is underway, the Trust plans to ship solar cookers to Iraq to provide villagers in the desert with a solar cooking alternative, as they currently burn either dried branches of dates or kerosene.

February 2014: Members of the Global Resource Alliance demonstrate the importance of permaculture for the future welfare of the citizens of Tanzania. 39:33

From the Mara Soil - a Film About Simple and Natural Solutions to Poverty, Hunger and Disease

Members from the Global Resource Alliance explain the importance of permaculture adoption in Tanzania, and the role solar cooking can play.

November 2013: Islamic charity sends 500 solar cookers to Tanzania - The London-based Islamic charity, Lady Fatemah Trust (LFT) has shipped 500 solar panel cookers to the Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania. These highly-reflective waterproof versions of the traditional CooKit were designed by UK inventor Matthew Rollins, and are intended to reduce the amount of time spent by women and children foraging for firewood. Faustine Odaba, who is conducting the training sessions, will show the women how to cook local foods with these solar cookers that have been manufactured in the UK and shipped to Tanzania on pallets. Although LFT reports that the newly designed solar cookers do not require the use of a plastic bag to surround the cooking pot, they also report that next year LFT will supply foil trays and clear domes to be used as greenhouses over the cooking pot to improve cooking efficiency. LFT is in discussion with Odaba about the introduction of retained-heat cooking technology to be used alongside the solar cookers.

Solar and fireless cookers presented to widows in the Macedonia Ministry income generation program with Kyoto Twist.

January 2013: Macedonia Ministry provides solar and fireless cookers for widows - Widows in Tanzania live with an unjustified stigma, that can often include abuse. Despite the government's efforts to help educate the public, prejudice still exists. Unfortunately, due in some part to AIDS, the number of single parent households are on the rise. In 2010 and 2011 the Macedonia Ministry in collaboration with the nonprofit, Kyoto Twist, provided more than seventy-five widows with solar box cookers and fireless cookers in the city of Moshi, within the Kilimanjaro Region. These cookers have helped save the environment as fewer trees are cut for fuelwood. The income incentive program has allowed the women to pay the fees to send their children to school, and be able to get them medical attention. They are happy and want this project continued.

In 2004 Tanzania Posts Corporation released a series of postage stamps commemorating the 75th anniversary of Girl Guiding in Tanzania. Included in the set was a stamp depicting Girl Guides “demonstrating environment friendly solar cookers.”

Wide ranges of projects are found in Tanzania, many located in schools, missions,
or local training centers. Solarafrica, a Zanzibar organization, has promoted both basketry and solar ovens on the island of Zanzibar for many years, sponsored by the Esperanto Club of Lund, Sweden. Early in the development of connections between the two areas, the shortages of fuel for cooking were noted. Swedish participants have developed a number of simple technologies that can be locally made, such as parabolics of cardboard lined with foil, and another formed from a large flat basket. (Solar Cooker Review, Sept '02).

Yet another project on Zanibar, sponsored by a German group, Mama Earth, uses both parabolic cookers and boxes, preferring to cook some food in the slower box and the parabolic for "speed cooking" rice, and also for dying plaited palm leaves for craft use.

In addition, the group is experimenting with the use of flattened beer cans as reflectors in a frame of wood or metal for homemade cookers.

The GEF Small Grants Programme funded a project by the Kagera Community Development Trust, Bukoba - KADET in 1999 that produced 40 solar box cookers. Progress reports showed that the technology was replicated in various parts of Kagera region.

Another German group, Solar Cooking Zanzibar, is also located on the large island offshore from the mainland of Tanzania. The focus of this group is craft and artisan development; they have used solar cookers to dye fabrics and basketry material for craftwork. Some of the profits have enabled members to purchase solar cookers for their own household use (Solar Cooker Review, Aug, '02). The German electric utility, Bayernwerke, has made possible the provision of parabolic cookers for a local fishing village, as well, and a number of sponsoring organizations have made possible the building of a workshop and solar powered kitchen. (Solar Cooker Review, Aug '00).

On mainland Tanzania, a religiously affiliated group, EAG (T)Church - MJIMWEMA in Kigoma produces locally made parabolic or "bowl" type cookers. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania in Morogoro Province has conducted research on fuelwood use, and then began using parabolic cookers, sent from Germany, for cooking, pasteurizing water, and firing clay bricks. The Kilimanjaro Biolgas and Solar Centre sponsors many types of renewable energy and has been active in solar cooking promotion for many years. (SCI Rev Dec 00). Many of the devices promoted by Anna Pearce (see "multiple-nation" promoters section above) are in use in Tanzania, particularly the "Anahat" cooker/hatbox combination. Other organizations working in Tanzania are the Ilemi Secondary School of Mbeya, Net-Score of Malinyi, and Solar Innovations of Tanzania.

In the summers of 2001, 2002 and 2003, Project AHEAD, an American NGO, demonstrated the use of solar cookers for water pasteurization in two areas of Tanzania, first in Shinyanga District, in the northwest of the country, and the second in Kisarawe, near Dar es Salaam. National and district health officers have attended workshops on the technologies of water testing for contamination, followed by demonstration of the use of solar cookers for water pasteurization. In the summer of 2003, household surveys were conducted in both districts to serve as baseline data and an evaluation tool for a large project to be mounted in the period, 2004-2006, funds permitting. This will be the first major demonstration project focused on the use of solar cookers for this purpose. Because of the innovative nature of this project, a case study on this topic is included with this report.

Tanzania is experiencing a demographic and an environmental crisis. Tanzania has a population of around 37 million. It has a fertility rate of almost five children per woman. This rapidly growing populace places extreme pressure on the environment. For example, forests are being diminished rapidly in significant part by demand for fuel wood. A case in point: between 1960 and 1980, the Amani forest in Tanzania was reduced by 50%. For every 28 trees cut in Africa today, only one is planted.

As forests around communities are degraded, women and children must forage for fuel wood further and further from home. In some places, women must camp overnight in the bush. When the distances become too great, some families must pay 25% to 50% of their income to buy cooking fuel.